ARES and CA are the best G36's out there.
Externally they're very similar (glass fiber, nice texture) and that's where the huge advantage is over TM/JG/etc. Even if the internals aren't good (which they are in both, I'm pretty sure) you can always replace them.

I was probably going to get an Ares G36K, until I decided to go instead for a GBBR.

The Ares has the advantage of being available in all popular versions: G36C, K, E, and RIS. The Ares G36s have a fairly nice 3.5X optical scope, with a realistic reticle, but the eye relief is very, very short. The scope has a short section of rail along the top, where you could mount an appropriately small red dot. Most other G36 airsoft guns lack that section of rail.

Here is my take on it.
I own an Ares G36K .
The Ares has maybe the best externals, very solid feeling, realistic take down. Best part? Quick-change spring system! the thing is a beaut!
But be prepared for some frustration when u want to mess around with it (modding, upgrades etc,). Ares has a lot of proprietary parts and not all things may fit so sourcing parts might be difficult.

The g36 i got i have a strong feeling it was a lemon, wasnt working properly out of the box and had to go through a lot to get it shooting properly.

Would I recommend the Ares G36? Heck ya! given you dont get a lemon :P

The (new) ARES and CA G36s are basically equivalent, it's up to you whether you'd rather trade off battery life for electric blowback SFX. But then again, if you're a blowback whore, might as well get a WE G36.

If i were you i would just get the ARES, you will have far less problems, but again its like comparing apples to oranges.
The build quality (even for a "plastic" gun) is much better than the D-Boys.
The range of an ARES G36K is around 200 ft w/.25g, everything stock.

I've already expressed my opinions about the Ares G36. If you want an AEG G36, that's the one I would buy.

The AK74 is a different animal all together. I have a CYMA AKS-74M (full length AK74, with a folding metal stock). I love this gun, and surely it's my favorite. It hits hard, has tremendous range, and is easy to live with. I've slayed a lot of bodies with my AK.

As I understand it, my CYMA is pretty much the same as the D-Boys.

The downside to these guns is some of the external parts are made of cheap and fragile pot metal. It's a good thing high quality Tokyo Marui parts fit my CYMA. Each time something has broken, I've replaced it with a TM part. My gun is now much better than when I first got it, but getting it to this point was not cheap. I would've been better off to buy a Marui or a VFC in the first place.

It's a tough message for new airsofters, but spending money on high quality guns is always better than buying a low-end gun and upgrading its parts as they break. Plus there'd be much less down time.